Building structure intended to host computer data

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates a building structure ( 1 ) intended to host computer data, comprising at least one data room ( 2 ) housing data processing means, at least one service room ( 5 ) comprising the technical components required for functioning of the data room ( 2 ), and at least one technical corridor ( 3 ),
         characterized in that the data room ( 2 ) is located on the periphery of the building ( 1 ), and in that the service room ( 5 ) is located at the core of said building ( 1 ).

The invention relates the structure of buildings intended to house computer data.

Said buildings are known under the name data centers or computer system host centers.

Said centers generally comprise at least one data room to house data processing means, and at least one service room comprising the necessary means for the functioning of the data center. Optionally these centers also comprise meeting rooms, offices or informal areas.

They are specially designed to host and protect computer equipment and mission critical equipment. For those companies which require this kind of service, the unavailability of the site or loss of data can prove to be highly costly. These host centers are therefore particularly designed so as to ensure maximum protection for the hosted computer systems.

The architecture of the buildings is such that the data rooms are located at the center core to guarantee their protection, whilst the service rooms particularly containing batteries, inverters, telecommunication operator rooms, electric generators and generic low voltage switchboxes are arranged on the periphery. Also the structure is designed to maintain a high service and security level for the purpose of ensuring the integrity and functioning of its constituent components.

One object of the invention is to propose a new structure for a data host center, with which it is possible to provide maximum protection and security for the computer equipment and networks housed in the data rooms.

Another object of the invention is to propose a new structure for a data host center which is modular.

Another object of the invention is to propose a new structure for a data host center that is more reliable.

A further object of the invention is to propose a new structure for a data host center which has increased security.

To achieve these objectives and to better protect computer data stored in the data host center, the structure of the building has been given an entire rethink to guarantee priority functioning of the computer equipment in the data rooms, irrespective of outside conditions.

The Applicant has ascertained that in the event of failure of an item of computer equipment or network equipment in the data room, irrespective of the reason, its repair or replacement is feasible and implemented without delay. The Applicant has also ascertained that any breakdown of an item of computer equipment in the data room does not cause the ill-functioning of other items, and hence the host center is suitable to continue its mission.

On the other hand, the Applicant has ascertained that any failure of a technical element such as an electric generator, set of batteries, or a cooling unit, could have disastrous consequences on the proper functioning of the data rooms. Without any power supply or when distribution networks are cut off, the equipment is unable to operate. And without any proper air conditioning system, the inevitable increase in room temperature due to heating of the computer equipment has disastrous consequences on the computer equipment, and may seriously damage such equipment if a certain limit is exceeded.

Yet the replacement or repair of such technical elements is difficult and time-consuming, and may take several months.

This is the reason why the Applicant has designed a building structure intended to host computer data, comprising at least one data room to house data processing means, at least one service room comprising the technical components required for the functioning of the data room, and at least one technical corridor, characterized in that the data room is located on the periphery of the building and in that the service room is located within the core of said building.

Some preferred, but non-limiting, aspects are as follows:

-   -   the data room, the service room and the technical corridor form         an independent block;     -   the block also comprises a tertiary zone in which there is at         least one room from among the following: an office, a meeting         room or an informal area,     -   the block is modular,     -   it comprises at least two independent blocks,     -   the two blocks are symmetrical,     -   the technical corridor is positioned between the service room         and the data room,     -   the data room is in a dry zone,     -   the technical corridor is in a wet zone,     -   the technical corridor comprises at least one air treatment         plant,     -   the service room comprises at least one element from among the         following group: electric generator unit, cooling unit, battery,         inverter, transformer, telecommunication operator or generic low         voltage switchbox,     -   the electric generator unit, the cooling unit, the inverter, the         transformer, the telecommunication operator and the generic low         voltage switchbox are each located in a specific, separate         service room,     -   each specific service room is duplicated within the building,     -   the technical corridor conveys chilled water derived from the         service room specific to the cooling unit, towards the air         treatment plants,     -   the zones accessible to operators and the zones that are         technically dedicated have a separate access,     -   the data room is devoid of load-bearing elements,     -   the structure is in reinforced concrete,     -   the power network intake, power routing, electric distribution         chain as a whole, namely the generic low voltage switchboxes in         particular or inverters, the distribution of data networks,         operator rooms, cooling units and cold water distribution         derived from the cooling units are duplicated,     -   the duplicated power network feed has separate intakes,     -   access control is conducted at least at the entrance to the         building, at the entrance to the block or at the entrance to the         data room,     -   the structure also comprises a video surveillance system,     -   the structure also comprises at least one of the following         means: water detection means, hygrometry control means, fire         detection means, fire shield protection, inner fire wall within         the structure, a standpipe system or an external water reserve.

Other characteristics, purposes and advantages of the present invention will become apparent on reading the following detailed description, with reference to the appended drawings given as non-limiting examples in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one floor of a data host center according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of two blocks forming the data host center of the invention,

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional plan view along line III-III in FIGS. 1 and 2 of a data host center according to the invention, the center having two floors,

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional plan view along line IV-IV in FIGS. 1 and 2 of a data host center according to the invention, the center having two floors.

The data host center 1 according to the invention, consists of at least one block comprising:

-   -   at least one data room 2, preferably several thereof, hosting         computer equipment and/or network equipment,     -   at least one technical corridor 3 adjoining these rooms 2, in         which the air conditioning systems 4 are located,     -   separate service rooms 5 which particularly contain cooling         units, electric generators 5 b, inverters 5 a and         telecommunication operators, and     -   at least one tertiary zone 6 comprising offices, meeting rooms         and informal areas.

Preferably the center 1 comprises two identical blocks 1 a and 1 b of the aforementioned type, fully independent and of modular size so that they may easily be adapted to the needs of each company. Their respective surface area is in the order of 1000 sq.m. for example. Each block may be reserved for exclusive use by one company.

The rooms which make up the host center 1 may be distributed over one floor or several floors.

The data rooms 2 comprise servers, stacked in racks 7 for example, which are arranged within the space so as to form simple rows allowing free movement between them. Preferably the center 1 comprises two floors, for easy sizing of the rooms 2 so that the floor area is as large possible without requiring load-bearing elements e.g. using large span cellular slabs.

The service rooms 5 are then distributed at the core of each floor of the building. They are separated from each other, each one hosting a specific type of technical component from among: electric generators 5 b, batteries 5 a, inverters 5 c, transformers, cooling units, telecommunication operators and generic switchboxes. They are placed in the core of the building structure whilst the data rooms 2 are arranged on the periphery.

The cooling units are preferably positioned on a terrace.

The technical corridors 3 are inserted between the data rooms 2 and the service rooms 5. They comprise at least one air treatment plant 4 linked to the air conditioning system for the data room 2. The cold water derived from the cooling units located in the core of the structure in a separate service room, is conveyed by the corridors 3 towards air conditioning systems 4 which send chilled air to the air conditioning units via a blower system.

Through this separation of the technical components, namely the air treatment plants 4 and the cooling units, solely the technical corridors 3 lie in a wet zone, whilst the data rooms 2 remain in dry zones only receiving gaseous fluids. This arrangement therefore guarantees protection of the equipment in the data room 2 against any water leakages.

Also, the rooms of the building are arranged in such a way that zones 6 accessible to operators and zones 8 for technical services have a separate access. For example, delivery and maintenance technical operations are carried out via the rear façade of the building, whilst the work rooms which have a view over the data hosting spaces, offices and informal areas are located on the front face. In this way accesses to the data rooms 2 by maintenance operators are limited to the strict minimum, to ensure efficacy and security.

Additionally, to guarantee reliability of service of the host center 1 and its own power supply, most of its constituent elements have redundant back-up. Therefore the host center 1 comprises:

-   -   two separate power network feeds (High Voltage)     -   systematically duplicated power distribution for each item of         electric equipment,     -   an entirely duplicated electric distribution chain: generic low         voltage switchboxes, inverters, etc.     -   duplicated mains supplies for each building,     -   duplicated distribution of data networks,     -   operator rooms with duplicated, separated mains supplies,     -   two independent electric chains,     -   redundant cooling units     -   excess air treatment plants to ensure functioning of the         air-conditioning system and to maintain the data rooms at a         threshold temperature despite a 50% loss of equipment,     -   possible cross-over between the cooling unit network of one         block and the cooling unit of an adjacent block to supply         chilled water to the air-conditioning units of the adjacent         cooling plant if needed, and     -   duplicated distribution of chilled water derived from the         cooling units.

Additionally, provision is made for emergency supply by the electric generators for extensive running time (e.g. in the region of 72 hours) which are powerful enough to provide emergency supplies to the entire building.

Regarding the security of the host center 1, the structure of the building is arranged so that access is controlled at three levels at least: at the entrance 10 to the center by means of an enclosure around the building, at entrance 20 to each block, at entrance 30 to each data room. Access controls are duplicated by monitoring and video surveillance.

Also, to protect the installations, provision is made in particular for water detection means, hygrometry control means, fire detection means (e.g. duplicated ionic protection and VESDA (Very Early Smoke Detection Alarm, i.e. a fire detection system by particle analysis), fire shield protection and two-hour fire walls between the various rooms, a structure that is entirely in reinforced concrete (forming a protective shell against outside attacks and fire-resistant), a standpipe system or a water reserve close to the buildings. 

1. Building structure (1) intended to host computer data, comprising at least one data room (2) housing data processing means, at least one service room (5) comprising the technical components required for the functioning of the data room (2), and at least one technical corridor (3), characterized in that the data room (2) is located on the periphery of the building (1) and in that the service room (5) is located at the core of said building (1).
 2. Building structure (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the data room (2), the service room (5) and the technical corridor (3) form an independent block (1 a, 1 b).
 3. Building structure (1) according to the claim 2, characterized in that the block also comprises a tertiary area (6) in which there is at least one room from among the following: an office, a meeting room, an informal area.
 4. Building structure (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the block (1 a, 1 b) is modular.
 5. Building structure (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises at least two independent blocks (1 a, 1 b).
 6. Building structure (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the two blocks (1 a, 1) are symmetrical.
 7. Building structure according to claim 1 characterized in that the technical corridor (3) is positioned between the service room (5) and the data room (2).
 8. Building structure (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the data room (2) is in a dry zone.
 9. Building structure (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the technical corridor (3) lies in a wet zone.
 10. Building structure (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the technical corridor (3) comprises at least one air treatment plant (4).
 11. Building structure (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the service room (5) comprises at least one element from among the following group: electric generator, cooling unit, battery, inverter, transformer, telecommunication operator or generic low voltage switchbox.
 12. Building structure (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the electric generator, the cooling unit, the inverter, the transformer, the telecommunication operator and the generic low voltage switchbox are each located in a specific, separate service room.
 13. Building structure (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that each specific service room is duplicated within the building (1).
 14. Building structure (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the technical corridor (3) conveys chilled water derived from the service room specific to a cooling unit, towards an air treatment plants (4).
 15. Building structure (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the areas (6) accessible to operators and the service areas (8) have a separate access.
 16. Building structure (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the data room (2) is devoid of any load-bearing elements.
 17. Building structure (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it is in reinforced concrete.
 18. Building structure (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: the power network intake port, the power distribution, the electric distribution chain in its entirety, i.e. the generic low voltage switchboxes or inverters in particular, the distribution of data networks, the operator rooms, the cooling units, and the distribution of chilled water from the cooling units are duplicated.
 19. Building structure (1) according to claim 18, characterized in that the duplicated power network supply has separate feeds.
 20. Building structure (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that access control is ensured at least at the entrance (10) to the building, at the entrance (20) to the block, or at the entrance (30) to the data room (2).
 21. Building structure (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises a video surveillance system.
 22. Building structure (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises at least one means from among: water detection means, hygrometry control means, fire detection means, fire shield means, an inner fire break wall inside the structure, a standpipe system or an external water reserve. 